Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1887-02-17
HAY IN STACKS.
Tho Enormous Loss Resulting from De
nc.cnt Methods Of Stacking.

ncteut Mcihpha OF 0AtthlhEs
Prof. j. w. Sanborn, in a bulletin
recently issued, gives the results Of his
experience on the grounds Of the Mis-
souri, Agricultural College in regard TO
the practical subject, shrinkagc of hay
in stacks.
While Prof Sanborn does not con-
slider the stacking of hay an economical
method he has been forced to this pre-
vailing practice. He says; Hay con-
tains in the dry, rs well Us in the green
state, matter that is soluble in water
For this reason all exposed hay on the
exterior of stacks is subject to having
washed from it such soluble matter
In round stacks the amount Of hay tn S
exposed is much larger than is usually
supposed. A body one foot in diameter
contains only onc-fourth the matter of
a body two feet in diameter. Thus six
inches from the circumference towards
the center will contain four times ~
much matter rs the central part of a
round body two feet in diameter
a stack Of hay, - feet in diameter
and feet to the point Of its drawing
IN. aud . feet more to the top Of it,
cone. will contain. on its outside foot,
at $50 feet to the ton, 2SG57 pounds Of
hav, while the interior will contain
$50. 80 pounds. Thus. 33 per cent. of
the hay Of the ordinary round stack,
of the State is found on the outside
foot Of those stacks. A heavy proper
ton Of this food is obviously subject to
loss by teaching rains, by moldcring
and by actual rotting in badly-con-
structcd stacks.
August .. 1884, the professor had put
up a wcll-madc stack Of second crop Of
clover. 1t was in good style to shed
rain aud capped with other material
II was not injured internally by water
II weighed, August Q, on stacking,
G,jlI pounds. IL was tested for water
contents by the water bath and found
10 contain 32.5 per cent Of water
March il was again all weighed with
much care to prevent loss Of hay in
handling Its weight was 4,5iS pounds.
At this time il contained 1914 per cent.
Of water, the change in water contents
being quite noticeable. IL was ncces-
sary to ascertain the dry matter of the
hay, both in the fall and in the spring:
FaH WsigAf
Dry Matter.
G5ii pounds, less a2.5 per cent water IS. .4,s9l
i,'iH pounds less inli per cent water is.. ..aSli
Loss Of organic matter until March &c.. o.. 5si
Per cent. loss, seven and one half months. 1872
What would have been the loss from
July / until May, when the last Of win
ter food is supposed to be fed?
Prof Sanbo-n makes the following
application to the above facts:
First-The 6,5l4 pounds Of hay in the
fall would have been as well sold at s.
ton as the l.5iS pounds at s7.lG u ton
in the spring This does not include
interest and cost Of handling which
would carry the spring cost up 10 -
per ton to equal the 81 fall price. These
figures contemplate the sale Of hay di-
rect from the field.
Sccond-The above figures Of shrink
age for the stack in question do not IN
cludc the injur} 10 the hay on the bot
tom Of the stack and the direct injury
at other parts.
Third The 1872 per cent. loss was
doubtless mainly from iis most soluble
portions.
Fourth This 1872 per cent. when
applied to 100 tons Of hay means - loss
Of 1872 tons This, at So per ton, gives
money loss Of $79.2O. This sum Is
the interest on 1880 at per cent.
For 81 ,23O barn can Dc constructed
in hich water will not freeze and that
viii hold 100 tons Of hay and cattle
enough To consume IT,
In conclusion Prof Sanborn ex-
presses the belief that tho loss from
badly stacked hay Is enormous, aud
therefore not in the interest Of econ-
omy. lie advises a moderately eX-
ponsiye barn. This saves the hay
stamped out about stacks; II saves the
manure; Il decreases the amount OF
food eaten; IL saves the lives Of ami
mails and the loss Of hay from sources
above considered.
To those who can not secure barns q
cheap and successful system may be
iound in building broad, square. high
stacks, and covering them with boards.
a double layer Of boards beiug used to
soyer the joints. The English thatch.
ng and other systems Of covering arr
ifici available. Y. W2rld,